Throughout history, some of the greatest saints have turned to journalling not as a mere habit, but as a means of self-discovery, an honest dialogue with God, and a tool for profound spiritual growth.

While their styles, struggles, and revelations differed, their writings share a common thread—the pursuit of truth, both about themselves and about the Divine. From the poetic mysticism of St. John of the Cross to the raw honesty of St. Faustina, these saints recorded their deepest fears, doubts, and ultimately, their transformation through faith. Their journals are not just personal reflections but a testament to the power of writing as a path to self-knowledge and divine intimacy.

Journaling Through Doubt: The Dark Night of St. John of the Cross

For St. John of the Cross (1542–1591), writing was not just a form of expression but a way to process the overwhelming desolation he experienced in his spiritual life. His Dark Night of the Soul is a poetic and theological masterpiece that explores the painful purification of the soul as it moves towards union with God. He describes the journey as one of suffering and seeming abandonment:

“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.” (Dark Night of the Soul, II, 5)

John’s writing reveals a paradox—although he felt abandoned by God, his suffering was, in fact, a path to deeper communion. His journalling was not merely descriptive; it was transformative. By articulating his doubts, he came to realise that the loss of all earthly and even spiritual consolations was necessary to fully surrender to divine love. This contrasts with the approach of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who, while also experiencing spiritual dryness, did not articulate her suffering in grand theological language but in the simple, childlike trust of her Little Way.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Simplicity in Writing, Depth in Love

St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) did not write with the depth of theological reflection that described St. John of the Cross. Instead, her journal, Story of a Soul, is filled with seemingly ordinary observations that reveal profound spiritual insight. Unlike John, who explored mystical suffering, Thérèse highlighted love in the smallest actions:

“I understand that love comprises all vocations—that love is everything.” (Story of a Soul, Manuscript B, 3)

Thérèse’s approach to journalling was gentle and accessible. While she too faced doubts—wondering if heaven was real and whether she had enough faith—she did not dwell on them in the way John did. Instead, her journal became a means of reinforcing her radical trust in God’s mercy, even when she felt nothing. Her faith was not about extraordinary visions or complex theological concepts but about surrender in the ordinary.

This simplicity stands in stark contrast to St. Teresa of Ávila, who, while sharing Thérèse’s Carmelite spirituality, wrestled with doubt in a much more analytical and intense way.

St. Teresa of Ávila: The Analytical Mystic

St. Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) approached journalling with the precision of a scientist examining her own soul. In The Interior Castle, she mapped out the spiritual journey as if it were a series of rooms, each requiring deeper purification and surrender. Her early experiences in prayer were marked by frustration and self-doubt:

“I was more occupied in wishing that the hour of prayer was over than in thinking of prayer itself.” (The Book of Her Life, Chapter 8)

Unlike Thérèse, who embraced her weaknesses as part of her Little Way, Teresa struggled deeply with her imperfections, often feeling unworthy of God’s grace. Yet, through her writing, she was able to analyse these doubts and systematically work through them, arriving at an unshakable conviction of God’s presence within. Her journalling was both a personal therapy and a roadmap for others seeking deeper union with God. While Teresa’s intellectual rigor helped her navigate her doubts, St. Faustina Kowalska’s journalling took on a different function—it became a direct record of divine revelations.

St. Faustina Kowalska: Writing as a Divine Mandate

Unlike the contemplative reflections of John, Thérèse, and Teresa, St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) wrote under a direct mandate from Jesus. Her Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul is a record of her mystical experiences and conversations with Jesus. She often struggled with feelings of unworthiness, questioning whether God had truly chosen her:

“Jesus, do You not see that I am the worst of all? I do not understand why You would choose me.” (Diary, 1605)

Yet, her journalling was not just an outlet for self-doubt—it became an act of obedience. Jesus commanded her to record His words so that the world would know of His Divine Mercy. Unlike Teresa, who analysed herself to gain understanding, Faustina’s journal was not about self-discovery but about obedience to God’s will. Here is another example.

It is the striking contrast between Faustina’s divine revelations and the raw emotional honesty of St. Mary of Jesus Crucified.

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified: The Passionate Mystic

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified (1846–1878), also known as The Little Arab, wrote in a way that was deeply poetic and unfiltered. She did not attempt to structure her spiritual experiences like Teresa, nor did she write with the literary grace of Thérèse. Instead, her journals are marked by fervent, almost desperate cries to God:

“My soul is in anguish, my God, I feel abandoned, yet I trust in You.”

Unlike Faustina, who received specific visions of Jesus, Mary’s mysticism was often chaotic and overwhelming. Yet, her journals reveal a deep humility—she never sought to be a great theologian or visionary; she simply wanted to love God with all her being.

Her unfiltered approach to writing shares some similarities with Sr. Clare Crockett, a modern-day nun, now raised to Servant of God, whose reflections capture the same intensity and passion.

 Sr. Clare Crockett: Modern Joy in Surrender

Sr. Clare Crockett (1982–2016), an Irish nun who gave up an aspiring acting career for religious life, did not leave behind volumes of mystical writings like Teresa or John.

However, her letters and reflections reveal a powerful journey of surrender. She struggled with her call to leave everything behind but ultimately found joy in embracing God’s plan:

“I know that without God, I am nothing, but with Him, I can do all things.”

Unlike the saints who lived centuries before her, Clare’s journalling in her six notebooks reflects a contemporary struggle—leaving behind modern comforts, fame, and personal ambition for a life of radical faith. Yet, like all the saints before her, she found in journalling a way to make sense of her calling and ultimately, to surrender joyfully.

The Common Thread: Self-Knowledge Through Writing

Despite their vastly different experiences, styles, and historical contexts, all these saints shared one thing: their journals became a path to self-knowledge and, ultimately, to a deeper relationship with God. Whether through John’s dark nights, Thérèse’s simplicity, Teresa’s analysis, Faustina’s obedience, Mary’s raw emotions, or Clare’s joyful surrender, each saint used writing as a mirror to their soul.

For those who wish to embark on their own spiritual journalling journey, these saints offer a blueprint—write honestly, embrace your doubts, surrender to God’s will, and let your words lead you into deeper self-awareness and divine intimacy. You might even start today!